In the declaration of independence, it is written that "We hold these truths to be self-evident" SELF EVIDENT means that the morals of this country are not derived from any religious text, but rather from common sense. The god that is referred to in the declartion is never singled out as the Judeo-Christian god, but seems to be a Deist abstraction, since it is reffered to as "The God of Nature". Therefore, our morals are not Christian.
Article 11 of the treaty of Tripoli states that "The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion". This treaty was sent to the Senate in 1797, where it was read to every Senator, and was unanimously ratified by all 23.
The phrases "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God we Trust" on our bills were added in the 1950's, during the height of McCarthyism, in order to set our country apart from Atheist Russia.
So where does this idea of a Christian nation come from?
2007-08-13 03:50:17 · 12 answers · asked by Shinkirou Hasukage 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The original pledge was written by a Baptist Minister named Francis Bellamy and went as follows:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all"
2007-08-13 03:51:11 · update #1
The Pilgrims were fleeing a theocracy in which they were persecuted, why on earth would they want to found a second theocracy?
2007-08-13 04:04:24 · update #2
I'm not sure why you didn't realize that the answer is so self evident. Some people will believe anything, especially if it supports their agenda.
Franklin and The Adams boys, as well as several others among the Founders were Freemasons, Jefferson and Washington were Deists, another popular Religion among the Founders who were themselves products of the Age of Enlightenment.
Most people today wouldn't believe that the words "Under God," were added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1958.
Many of the ideals upon which this country was founded were drawn from Christianity, others from Pagan Rome and Greece, and underlying it all was the Magna Carta--the greatest single blow ever dealt to Religious Authority--which first defined in writing in the Christian World the idea that the Right to Rule came from the Governed, rather than God.
2007-08-13 05:15:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think you answered your own question in the third paragraph (GREAT points btw).
Most people think god has always been on money and in the pledge, and they need to be re-educated.
I am pleased to see people coming here to make real, fact-based reasonable arguments for rational thought.
EDIT: To James L: The bible condones slavery.
2007-08-13 11:01:52 · answer #2 · answered by AL 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Great post and a star for you! I think ignorance and apathy has a lot to do with why people would believe America was founded on Christianity.
2007-08-13 12:41:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I believe in the very beginning the ideals of this country were christian based, however from that point everything else became Murky. Since the nature of a snake is to eat it's victim from Head down, our society was taken from the Politicians down through our society. Anytime a nation can break GOD's laws and enslave another man as well as creating a smorgasboard of religions, u can't actually call itself christian. there was however alot of apostasy......
2007-08-13 10:57:56 · answer #4 · answered by James L 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Probably because the pilgrims were Christians and they were the most prominent group that settled in America. Or maybe because the first leaders were founded in the Christian faith and the most prominent religion was the Christian faith in the early days of America.
2007-08-13 11:01:45 · answer #5 · answered by FCC 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes! Great post! A bright light of sanity in a sea of darkness!
atheist
2007-08-13 10:57:31 · answer #6 · answered by AuroraDawn 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Idiots who want to think that somehow they have a right to push their crap on others.
Though it really doesn't matter what a bunch of slave owners though anyway so I wouldn't bother arguing it (and history will get things right eventually anyway).
2007-08-13 10:57:50 · answer #7 · answered by bestonnet_00 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I am so glad you have learned some history. No one believes the USA was founded on Christianity. There are lots of lies and misrepresentations in the history books, but I don't believe that is one of them.
2007-08-13 10:57:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Willfull ignorance and self delusion.
2007-08-13 10:56:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
Perfect post! You are completely correct. Thank you! *sm*
2007-08-13 11:52:51 · answer #10 · answered by LadyZania 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋